MWEA, Kenya – Frustrated and grieving residents of Mwea in Kirinyaga County have threatened to block miraa vehicles from using the Mwea-Embu highway following a series of fatal accidents, including the deaths of two children on November 27.
The children, who were hit by a miraa vehicle while riding a bicycle near Kithogondo slums, were laid to rest on Tuesday in a heartrending ceremony at Kasarani Cemetery in Thiba Ward.
The double tragedy has reignited anger over what locals say is rampant speeding and negligence by miraa drivers on the highway.
During the burial, mourners voiced their frustrations, demanding stricter enforcement of traffic laws.
Tebere MCA Peter Karinga vowed action, saying, “We will only allow miraa vehicles going at a speed of 40 kilometers per hour along this highway. No other person is going to be killed by a miraa vehicle.”
Residents also accused the traffic police of failing to act. Peter Murungaru, a local resident, said, “Where is the government when these miraa vehicles are flouting traffic rules? They neither slow down nor stop in our major towns like Ngurubani.”
The community’s anger boiled over after the November 27 incident, leading residents to temporarily block the busy Mwea-Embu highway in protest.
In response, miraa vehicles have reportedly diverted to the Kutus-Kagio-Sagana road, but residents claim the speeding persists.
“Right now, miraa vehicles are using the same speed on the Kutus-Kagio-Sagana road after being chased off the Mwea-Embu highway,” said Phillip Njogu, another mourner.
Residents are demanding that the National Police Service enforce traffic laws and crack down on reckless drivers.
With miraa vehicles frequently using the highway to transport the stimulant crop to markets, tensions are escalating between locals and the drivers.
The tragic deaths of the two children, buried in a single grave, have become a symbol of the broader issue of road safety in the region.
The community is adamant that unless action is taken, they will take matters into their own hands to ensure no more lives are lost to preventable accidents.
The children, who were hit by a miraa vehicle while riding a bicycle near Kithogondo slums, were laid to rest on Tuesday in a heartrending ceremony at Kasarani Cemetery in Thiba Ward.
The double tragedy has reignited anger over what locals say is rampant speeding and negligence by miraa drivers on the highway.
During the burial, mourners voiced their frustrations, demanding stricter enforcement of traffic laws.
Tebere MCA Peter Karinga vowed action, saying, “We will only allow miraa vehicles going at a speed of 40 kilometers per hour along this highway. No other person is going to be killed by a miraa vehicle.”
Residents also accused the traffic police of failing to act. Peter Murungaru, a local resident, said, “Where is the government when these miraa vehicles are flouting traffic rules? They neither slow down nor stop in our major towns like Ngurubani.”
The community’s anger boiled over after the November 27 incident, leading residents to temporarily block the busy Mwea-Embu highway in protest.
In response, miraa vehicles have reportedly diverted to the Kutus-Kagio-Sagana road, but residents claim the speeding persists.
“Right now, miraa vehicles are using the same speed on the Kutus-Kagio-Sagana road after being chased off the Mwea-Embu highway,” said Phillip Njogu, another mourner.
Residents are demanding that the National Police Service enforce traffic laws and crack down on reckless drivers.
With miraa vehicles frequently using the highway to transport the stimulant crop to markets, tensions are escalating between locals and the drivers.
The tragic deaths of the two children, buried in a single grave, have become a symbol of the broader issue of road safety in the region.
The community is adamant that unless action is taken, they will take matters into their own hands to ensure no more lives are lost to preventable accidents.
